Recording and reproduction of talking motion pictures



Mar. 3, 1925.

N. H. HOLLAND RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION OF TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed March 25, l92l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M m 5 6 @512, A @Vfloww Mar. 3, 1925. 1,528,424 N. H. HOLLAND RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION OF TALKING MOTION PICTURES Filed March 25, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gvwemtoz Patented Mar. 3, 1925. I 4 i UNITED STATES v 1,528,424 PATENT OFFICE.

rmwm H. 'HOLLAND, OF WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO PHONIC LABORATORIES, IIIG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION OF TALKING MOTION PICTUBES.

Application filed latch 25, 1921. Serial No. 455,660.

To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, NEWMAN H. HOLLAND, a citizen oftheUnited States, and resident of lrVest Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Recording and Reproduction of Talking Motion Pictures, of which the following is a specification. f

My invention relates to methods involved in recording sound and taking motion pictures simultaneously and methods involved in the synchronous reproduction of such sound and projection of the moving pictures. My invention also relates to apparatus wvhich may be utilized in the simultaneous recording of the sound and taking of the pictures and the corresponding re-' production of the sound and projection of the pictures.

The object of the invention comprises the production of methods of efliciently recording and reproducing the pictures and the soundswhich accompany the same, in. which the sound will be reproduced with suflicient volume for the commercial success of a. talking moving picture exhibition and in which synchronism of the sounds and pictures will be readily attained. Other objects of the invention comprise the production of apparatus suitable for thedesired purposes which may be operatedwithout requiring special/skill on the part of the operator and also without requiring delicate adjustments of the same. Another object is to produce apparatus of the character referredto which shall be simple in operation and which may be ea sily installed and connected. ,Other objects of the in vention include various improvements of construction, combinations of parts and novel process steps all as will be more fully explained hereinafter in the following specification and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

The motor which operates the phonograph is of sufficient power to also operate the the camera, distinctive impressions are made simultaneously, these preferably being made acoustically upon the sound record and optically upon the motion picture film.

When the records are to be reproduced the filmis adjusted in the projecting machine in such manner that one of the optical impressions referred to will be opposite the projecting lens. The phonograph is started and at the end of. the series of audible signals which were previously impressed on the record the camera is automaticallyconnected, to the phonograph so that the film and record. will properly start off together. Means are provided whereby adjustments may be made manually during the reproduction in case there is any error of synchronism at any time.' The phonograph rec'- ord is reproduced by means of an electrical reproducer, the current from which is amplified by means of thermionic ampliiiers' to produce sufiicientienergy to operate a loud talking receiver mechanism.

In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, attention is hereby directed to the, accompanying drawings, form'- ing part of this application and illustrating certain embodiments of the. invention. In the drawings Fig. 1 represents a diagrammatie view of a system of simultaneously making the acoustic and optical records, comprisedwithin my invention, and Fig. 2-similarly represents a diagrammatic View of the corresponding reproducing system. Referring first to Fig. lot the drawing, the moving picture camera is indicated at 1 inwhichthe film 2 is progressed intermittently by any well known means past the for intermittently feeding the film past the light opening may be understood to be operated. The phonograph mechanism may comprise the usual turn tableG on which a record "blank 7 of wax composition or any other suitablerecordmaterial may be positioned. Turn table 6 may be rotated by the usual vertical spindle 8 which is operated from phonograph motor since it is additionally required to operate the camera. J

a suitable motor by any desired means such as thebelt indicated at 9. The phonograph.

is provided with usual governing means so that it will run at a desired constant speed 'once it has attained such speedafter being started. A conventional governing device is indicated at 10 by which the collar 11 is raised as the-speed increases until the further raising o the collar is stopped by? The motor referred to a stop member 1 should be more powerful than the usual hen a talking moving picture record is to be made, the phonograph is first started. Asesoon as the spindle 8' attains its normal running'spced, the phonograph record made.

In the apparatus indicated in the drawing, a shaft 13 is rotated figom spindle 8 by suitable connections such as the bevel gears I 14, shaft 13 carrying a clutch member 15. A

shaft 16 carries a corresponding clutch member 17, shaft lfi being connected to operate the vmoving picture camera by suitable means such as the bevel gear 18 on shaft-16 which meshes With bevel gear 19 on shaft v5. A suitable mechanism, such as the bellcrank 20 is operated as soon as'spindle 8 attains full speed to throw clutch memberlo into engagement with clutch member 17,

its shown, this may be accomplished by the engagement of collar 11 withthe lower arm trate, may beused, if desired, to hold clutch gagement. If the clutch members are suitably formed,,as with buttress teeth, the acof the bellcrank when collar 11 rises to its full speed p'osition. Any suitable means, which I do not deem it necessary .to illusmembers 15 and 17 inengagemcnt with each other after they have been brought into ention of the phonograph governing device alone will be. suliicient to hold the clutch members in engagement. 1

'him the two machines have thus been connectedand have started operating at normal speed, signals or indications are simultaneously impressed'upon the moving picture film and the' sound record to indicate the starting point after which the action is to be photographed and the sounds which are to be recorded may immediately. be started. The indication on the film may suitably be made by an intermittently flashing lamp such as that shown at .21, and'the signal to'be impressed on the record may be made acoustically by means of a hell or a buzzer or the like. 4 i

M In the preferred embodiment of my invention the 'sound record is formed b a recording stylus such asr thatindicate at 22 Y 23, this current varying. in accordance with the sound vibrations which are received by The varying current thus produced is very greatly amplified, preferably by a series of thermionic amplifiers so that the movement of the recording stylus will be correspondi-ngly increased.

The circuits of the thermionic amplifying devices are indicated diagrammatically. The circuit 24 is illustrated as including the circuit 24;, connected with the "transmitter \the transmitter in the well known mannery- I primary winding 25 of "an induction coil,

the secondary of which, 26, is connected 'as shown at 27 to a thermionic amplifier 28.

The opposite end of winding 26, and one of by wire 29 with the primary winding 31 of an induction coiLanotherQcontact of amplifier. 28 being connected by wire 30 to opposite end of winding 31in the usual manner. The secondary winding 32 corresponding to primary 31' is connected in a circuit 33, 34:With a thermionic amplifier 35 from which agreatly amplified varying current- -the contacts 'of amplifier28, are connected ll il is sent out over circuit 36, 37 to cause the corresponding operation of stylus 22.

In the drawing the stylus is indicated as being carried-by a vibrating reed 38 which is surrounded by a winding 39 in series with the circuit connec ions 36, 37, the vibrating member 38 and winding 39 being mounted within a permanent electro-magnet 40. The showing is of course, diagrammatic and is to be understood as illustrative merely. 7

- When theclutch members 15: and 17 have been coupled together, I preferably record a series such as three or four, signals on the film and the phonograph record'. This may conveniently be accomplished bythe a pparatus indicated in whichthe end portion of shaft 16 is provided with'a screw thread 41 on which a nut 42 is mounted! The nut is prevented from rotatifng, as by. having a guide rod 43 extending through an opening in the same, so that nut 42 will, travel towards the end of shaft 16 when the latter starts rotating;

which is normally open at the contacts 46 Lamp 21 is includediii a circuit 44,45,

struction. An arm 50 is carried by the'end portion of shaft l6-and'is provided with a wiping member 51 of insulating material which presses'contact 47 into engagement with contact 46 momentarily once every revolution. The circuit of lamp 21 is thus opened and closed. say four times, at predetermined time intervals, to register the spaced photographs of the lamp on the film, at the end of which one of the contacts 46 or 47 is moved out of position to cooperate with its companion contact, by the advancing movement of nut 42. Contact 46, may, for example, be carried by a bellcrank 52 which is engaged by nut 42 at the proper moment to depress contact 46 out of the range of movement of contact 47.

The acoustic signal may be operated by an electric bell 53 or by a buzzer operated by a relay 54 or by both. The bell 53 is connected in circuit to battery 48 by connections 55 and 56, the circuit thus formed extending through the normally open contacts 46 aud47. Accordingly,bell 53, if the same is used. will be intermittently sounded in synchronism with the flashing of lamp 21.

Buzzer relay 54 may be connected across circuits 55, 56 by means of connections 57 and 58 which are connected in series with a winding 59 which is associated with the windings 25 and 26 of the thermionic amplifying devices. Each time that circuit 55, 56 is closed and again opened the armature 60 of relay 54 is momentarily drawn away from contact 61, breaking the circuit, causing a characteristic signal or buzz in the winding 59 which signals will be transmitted to stylus 22 and recorded on the record at the same moment that the flashes of lamp 21 are recorded on the film. If the buzzer is used the bell 53 may additionally be used as a signal to the performers to start the action:

The thermionic amplifying devices described may, of course, be adjusted so as to record sound with suitable volume to correspond with the picture being taken and the conditions under which the picture is to be exhibited. .The telephone transmitter or sound receiving device or devices 23 may of course be suitably located to perform its functions without reference to the position of the camera or of the sound recording mechanism.

Coming now to the system of sound reproduction illustrated inFig. 2, the moving picture projecting machine is indicated at- 62 while the reproducing phonograph is represented as having a turntable 63 mounted on a spindle 64 which is operated by a suitable motor which may be connected to spindle 64 by a belt or other connection 65, the motor being suflicientlypowerful to also operate the projecting machine.

Shaft 66 is rotated from spindle 64 by suitable means such as bevel gears 67, shaft 66 serving to rotate a clutch member 68 which is adapted to be clutched to a clutch member 69 on a shaft 70 the rotation of which will operate the projecting machine. A device for permitting a relative adjustment between the moving picture film and the sound record surface while the mechanism is in motion is also preferably intcrposed in the connection between the phonograph and the projecting machine.

This adjustin mechanism may take the form of a manudlly operative gearing, preferably of the planetary type. I As shown, shaft 66 may be provided with a gear 71 whlch is connected to the gear 72 on shaft 73 by which clutch member 68 is carried by means of the planetary gear 74. The latter is carried by a frame 75 which is pivotally mounted on shafts 66 and 73 and is provided with a handle 76. When frame 75 is stationary, shafts 66 and 73 will of course rotate together. When, however, frame 75 is swung about shafts 66 and 73 in one direction or the other, the relative rates of rotation of shafts 66 and 73 will be momentarily changed. Accordingly, when clutch members 68 and 69 are in engagement the film and sound record may be relatively adjusted,

to enable the one which may be momentarily out of step with the other to be advanced or retarded into synchronism. The frame 75 may be secured in position by any suitable means such as by the provision of a stationary frame member 77 having a circular series of openings 78 therein, within any one of which a pin 79 on an arm 80 of frame 75 may be inserted. The operator at handle 76 may, of course, be provided with a head telephone set to follow closely the synchronism of the film and sound record.

The record 81 carried by turn table 63 is represented as being tracked by a reproducing stylus 82 of an electrical reproducer 83, the electro-magnetic means of which are connected by a circuit 84 with the primary winding 85 of an induction coil the secondary winding of which 86 is connected with a thermionic amplifying device 87. Another circuit 88 may lead from amplifier 87 to another thermionic amplifier 89, the circuit of which, 90, includes a primary winding 91 of an induction coil the secondary winding of which 92 is connected in a circuit 93 which contains a loud speaking telephone receiver, or the like 94. Accordingly, when circuit 93 is closed, the sound vibrations corresponding to record 81 will be reproduced by the loud speaking instrument 94 with an amplification which may be regulated by the adjustment of the thermionic amplify ing devices.

In operation, the positive film which is to be projected, is inserted in the projecting machine and so adjusted that the last oneof the visual signals or photographs of the lamp 21 will be opposite the projectng lens of the machine. The phonograph is now started and brought up to full speed whereupon the series of acoustic signals 'which were impressed on the sound record will be repro'duce Mechanism is provided for automaticall connecting the projecting machine to the p onograph at the moment when the last one of the series of distinctive buzZes or other acoustic signals areigfven.

This may be accomplished by the provision of a sound-operated relay. In the form of -apparatus shown in the drawlng a Wlnding 95 is associatcd'with the induction coil windings 91 and 92, coil 95being connected 'in series with a relay 96. The latter is provided with an armature 97 which is connected in a circuit 98 with a battery 99 anda relay 100, this circuit being normally open. The circuit is closed when relay 96 is energized to draw armature 97 back against contact 101. As each buzz or audible signal is reproduced by stylus 82 an amplified im pulse corresponding thereto will be transmitted throughcoil 95 energizing relay 96 and accordinglyclosing the circuitof relay 100 in exact accordance with the reproduction of the audible signals which were impressed on the sound record, these signals being, for example, four in number as stated. Relay 96 may be so adjusted and onstructed as only to operate when the same is affected by sounds of a desired character such as a buzz or bell signal of a predetermined pitch. As indicating a selective'relay ofthis character, I have indicated a copper head 102 on relay 96 so as to make the same slow acting, a condenser also being shown in the relay circuit.

Clutch member 68 is adapted to be thrown in clutch with member 69 by bell-crank 103 which may be actuated by a lug 104 on a suitable step-'by-step device which is actuated in accordance with the operation of the sound-operated relay 96. This step-by-step mechanism may comprise a rotatable disc 105 carrying lug 104 and also provided with a series of teeth 106. A pawl 107 is carried by the armature 108 of relay 100 and is adapted to coact with teeth 106.

Accordingly, the acoustic signal will be repeated a number of times corresponding to the number of recorded signals and with a timing corresponding to the timing of the signals as they are reproduced. This is of course, because of the fact that the varying current set up in the circuit of winding 95 and relay 96, when the acoustic signals are reproduced is of the proper character to operate relay 96. Circuit98 will be closed at contact 101 each time relay 96 is actuated and accordingly the disc 105 will be stepped around four times, if a series of four acoustic signals are used, lug 104 operating bellcrank 103 at the end of the step-by-step movement of disc 105 to throw clutch member 68 into engagement with clutch member 69. The clutch members may be held in engagement with each other during the sub-. sequent operation by' any desired means. The projecting machine will'immediately be started m' operation and the projection of 7 the film'and' the reproduction of thesound record will accordlngly be started at the proper starting points of each since the film wasa-djusted in the projecting machine with the last one ofthesenes'of visible signals recorded thereon in alignment with the projecting lens. f

I preferably leave the circuit 93 of the loud speaking receiver 94, open until the projecting machine and phonograph have been thus connected together; y-so doing, no sounds, such as the audible starting signal, will be reproduced for the audience until the exhibition of the talking motion picture is ready to begin. The circuit 93 of 5 receiver 94 may be left normally 0 en at contacts 109 and 110. An insulate contact 111 on bell-crank 103 is adapted to press contact 110 into enga ement with con-. taot 109 when clutch ln'em er 68 is thrown in operative position, and to hold the contacts closed so long as the clutch members are in engagement with each other.

It will be observed tram the above that the invention comprises apparatus for recording and for reproducing talking motion pictures and also includessound recording and reproducing devices and various combinations of parts in connection therewith. The invention also includes the various 1W methods which are involved in the manipulation of the films and sound records so as to insure the synchronous starting and operation of the pictures and the sound records as described above.

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to the details of construction and steps of process which have been particularly described but that the same is as broad as is indicated by the accompanying no claims.

What I claim is;

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a moving picture camera,

a recording phonograph, a motor for said 115 phonograph, adapted additionally to operate said camera, clutch mechanism, and means for automatically operating said mechanism, at the moment when said phonograph has attained its normal running speed, after bein started; to connect said phonograph to sai camera, to start and operate said camera at its nplrmal running speed, from said phonograp 1 2. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a moving picture'camera,

a recording phonograph, a motor for said phonograph, adapted additionally to operate said camera, clutch mechanism, means for automatically operating said mechanism to operate said camera from said plbmiograph immediately upon said phonograph attalning its normal running speed, miter being started, and means for producing predetermined signals acoustically on the rphonograph record and optically onthe inoving picture film, simultaneously, as soon as said clutch mechanism has been operated.

3. In apparatus ofthe character described, the combination of a movin picture ma chine, a phonograph, a motor or said phonograph, adapted additionally to operate said.

machine, governing means for .motor, clutch mechanism, and means for smutomatt cally operating said mechanism to connect said phonograph to said machine when said phonograph has attained its normal running speed after being started, to start and op erate said machine at its normal running speed.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a moving picture camera a phonograph, means for starting and operating the same, bringing them into synchronism and thereafter operating the same synchronously, and means for auttxmatically producing predetermined signals amthe phonograph record and on the moving picture film, simultaneously after said camera and phonograph have started operating synchronously.

5. In apparatusof the character described,

the combination of a moving picture camera,

a phonograph, means for starting and operating the same, bringing them into synchronism and thereafter operating the same synchronously, and means for automtically producing predetermined signals on the phonograph record shortly after said camera andphonograph have started operating synchronously.

6. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination of a moving picture camera, a recording phonograph, means for starting and operating the same, bringing them into synchronism and thereafter operating the same synchronously, means for recording audible signals on the phonograph record and visual signals on the moving picture film, and means, automatically operable shortly after said camera and phonogra h have started operating sychronously, or operating said signal recordin means simultaneously, to produce recor s of a series of signals on the recordand film.

7. A process for producing talking motion pictures, which comprises, connecting sound recording and motion picture camera apparatus for synchronous operation, and recording a starting point on the film and sound record, simultaneously, by operating a light so that it will be photographed on the film and making an audible signal so it will be recorded on the record simultaneously.

8. A process for producing a talking motion picture exhibition, which comprises, making the visual and sound records simultaneously, with starting points indicated at corresponding points on each, placing the film to be exhibited in the projecting machine with the starting oint opposite the projecting lens, starting tiie operation of the sound record to be reproduced in advance of its starting point and connecting the projecting machine to the sound reproducing machine for synchronous operation immediately the reproducer of the reproducing machine reaches the indicated starting point on the record.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York this 23d day of March A. D. 1921.

N EWMAN H. 'HOLLAND. 

